Phoenix Suns' Steve Nash (left) shoots over San Antonio Spurs' Robert Horry during Game Two of their NBA Western Conference semi-final game in Phoenix, on Tuesday night. The Suns won 101-81. - Reuters

PHOENIX (Reuters):

STEVE NASH, playing with a bandage on his nose, scored 20 points and dished out 16 assists as the Suns beat the Spurs 101-81 to level the Western Conference semi-final playoff series at 1-1 on Tuesday night.

Nash, who missed the final 45 seconds of the Spurs' Game One win after suffering the cut on his nose, was honoured by the home crowd, most of the local fans wearing bandages on their noses.

"What did he have? Twenty and 16? The guy's pretty good," Phoenix coach Mike D'Antoni told reporters. "It was kind of a typical performance (for Nash). He didn't shoot very well tonight (7-for-17) so it was kind of an off night for him."

D'Antoni made a line-up change to start the game, going to Kurt Thomas in a bid to limit San Antonio star Tim Duncan. Duncan scored 29 points (and had 11 rebounds), but the Suns having Thomas on him allowed Amare Stoudemire to concentrate on offence. After a six-point first half, Stoudemire scored 15 points in the third quarter, 21 in the second half.

Thomas had 12 points, going 6-for-7 from the field.

The series now moves to San Antonio, with Game Three set for Saturday.

"The game was all about maintaining the pursuit and the aggressiveness - they did that in a variety of ways," said San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich.

Meanwhile, LeBron James scored 36 points and dished out 12 assists to lead the Cavaliers to a 102-92 win over the New Jersey Nets in Cleveland as the Cavs took a 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference semi-finals.

Cleveland have won 10 straight games, dating back to the regular season, as the series shifts to New Jersey for Games Three and Four.

Sasha Pavlovic had 17 points and Drew Gooden 10 points and 14 rebounds for the Cavs, who have not lost since Easter Sunday.

"It was a tug-of-war match the first three quarters," James said. "My teammates are looking for me to make plays in the fourth quarter."

Vince Carter led the Nets with 26 points.